A  AT 


CATECHISM 

-ON- 

NATURAL  GAS 

PART   OF   GAS   CONSERVATION    PROGRAM    OF 

DEPARTMENT   OF   THE    INTERIOR 

BUREAU   OF   MINES 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


REPARED  ESPECIALLY   FOR   HOME  ECONOMICS  WORKERS  TEACHING 
CORRECT  USE  OF  NATURAL  GAS  IN  THE  HOME 

REPRINTED   SEPTEMBER.  192O 
REPRINTED  JUNE.  1921 


MAGNITUDE 

1.  How  many  towns  in  the  United  States  have  natural  gas? 

Ans.    About  2,000. 

2.  Of  all  the  towns  in  the  United  States  that  have  gas,  what 

proportion  have  natural  gas? 

Ans.    About  one-half. 

3.  How  many  domestic  consumers  are  there  in  the  United 

States  using  natural  gas  ? 

Ans.     About  2,500,000. 

4.  Of  all  the  gas  sold  as  a  public  utility  service,  in  the  United 

States,  what  per  cent  is  natural  gas  ? 

Ans.     About  75%. 

5.  What  is  the  geographic  distribution  of  natural  gas  produc- 

tion? 

Ans.  West  Virginia,  Oklahoma,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
California,  Louisiana,  Kansas,  Texas,  New  York,  Ar- 
kansas, Illinois,  Kentucky  and  Indiana  produce  more 
than  99%  of  the  entire  production  in  the  United  States. 

NATURAL  GAS  SITUATION 

6.  What  is  the  real  crux? 

Ans.  This  is  aptly  stated  by  the  United  States  Fuel  Ad- 
ministration as  follows: 

"Natural  gas  is  becoming  scarce;  the  demands  for 
natural  gas  are  now  greater  than  the  available  sup- 
ply. When  the  present  supplies  are  exhausted  we  must 
go  back  to  the  more  expensive  and  inferior  manufac- 
tured gas.  The  use  of  natural  gas  is  not  an  inalien- 
able right,  but  a  privilege  enjoyed  by  about  10  per 
cent  of  our  entire  population  in  the  United  States, 
and  used  in  a  most  extravagant  and  wasteful  manner 
with  no  regard  for  the  future,  and  not  appreciated 
until  it  is  gone. 

3 

507751 


;*7:  *  'Wtiil''wtti  &?&&'&  replace  natural  gas? 

Ans. 

Cost  of 

Amount  required  to  equivalent 

equal  1,000  cubic  1,000  cubic 

feet  natural  feet  natural 

gas  gas 

Kerosene 8%  gal.  @  $0.20  $1.70 

Manufactured  gas 2,000  cu.  ft.  @     1.25  2.50 

Gasoline * 9  gal.  @       .30  2.70 

Alcohol       15  gal.  @       .40  6.00 

Acetylene  gas 200  Ibs.  carbide  @       .04  8.00 

Electricity 322  K.  W.  @       .06  19.32 

8.  Why  is  the  natural  gas  industry  in  a  transition  stage  ? 

Ans.  The  total  production  in  the  United  States  has  de- 
clined 17%  in  the  last  two  years.  There  is  not  enough 
gas  to  go  around  as  now  used,  because  the  average 
domestic  consumer  is  creating  a  demand  three  times 
larger  than  his  actual  needs,  due  to  the  large  amount 
of  gas  he  is  wasting  in  inefficient  appliances.  The 
natural  gas  industry  as  a  whole  is  now  in  a  transition 
stage  going  from  a  basis  of  larger  volume  and  exten- 
sive use  at  low  prices  to  a  lower  volume  and  intensive 
use  at  higher  prices  per  unit. 

9.  What  does  the  term  "cost"  embrace  ? 

Ans.  There  is  a  marked  distinction  between  "cost"  and 
"price."  Price  is  what  the  seller  will  take  or  the  buyer 
will  give  for  a  given  item  of  property,  and  may  be 
more  or  less  than  cost.  The  term  "cost"  embraces  three 
distinct  elements : 

a.  Expenditures  made  in  operating  plant. 

b.  Liabilities  incurred  in  keeping  property  value  in- 
tact.    That  is,  so  that  the  fixed  capital  entering 
into  the  enterprise  will  be  intact,  either  in  the  form 
of  tangible  property,  or  a  sinking  fund  when  the 
enterprise  stops.   The  frequent  "ostrich  attitude"  of 
ignoring  this  will  result  in  some  rude  awakenings 
in  the  future.    Like  interest,  this  is  an  accumu- 
lative factor  that  is  always  working  and  never  at 
rest,  thus  constantly  becoming  larger  as  the  inevit- 
able day  of  reckoning  is  approached. 

c.  Rate  of  return  on  the  property  value  used  for  ren- 
dering service  commensurate  with  the  hazards  of 
the  enterprise.       The  claim  has  frequently  been 
made  that  return  on  capital  is  not  a  part  of  cost, 
but  if  the  sale  price  on  a  particular  transaction 


does  not  include  this,  then  the  transaction  nets  no 
return,  and  this  deficiency  must  be  made  up  on 
other  transactions,  thereby  creating  discrimina- 
tion. 

10.  What  are  the  dominating  service  features? 

Ans. 

a.    Gasoline  should  be  removed. 

6.  In  order  to  get  every  foot  of  gas  put  of  the  ground 
that  can  be  obtained  it  will  be  desirable  to  use  more 
compressing  stations  and  operate  existing  compress- 
ing stations  at  lower  intake  pressures. 

c.  Tooling  of  field  operations  is  desirable  to  curtail 
waste. 

d.  Gas  must  be  measured  into  and  out  of  main  lines 
and  into  distributing  plants,  so  as  to  get  a  definite 
check  on  leakage  conditions. 

e.  Gas  should  be  distributed  at  lower  and  more  uni- 
form pressures. 

/.  Gas  must  be  used  more  efficiently.  The  ordinary 
natural  gas  cooking  stove  now  in  use  wastes  about 
85%  of  the  gas  used.  The  ordinary  coal  furnace 
burning  gas  in  the  fire  pot,  wastes  about  75%  of 
the  gas  used.  These  wastes  must  obviously  be  cor- 
rected if  gas  is  to  be  conserved. 

g.  Gas  must  be  made  worth  saving.  This  will  auto- 
matically result : 

First,  in  taking  much  more  of  the  gas  out  of  the 
ground, 

Second,  in  transmitting  the  gas  from  the  field 
to  the  consumer  with  a  minimum  of  waste, 
and 

Third,  in  the  consumer  using  the  gas  in  an  effi- 
cient manner. 

11.  What  is  the  summary  of  the  present  natural  gas  situation? 

Ans. 

a.  Rock  pressure  decline  has  been  general  and  very 
marked. 

b.  Volume  of  producing  wells  has  declined. 

c.  Volume  of  new  wells  now  drilled  is  much  lower  than 
that  of  earlier  wells. 


d.  Number  acres  natural  gas  land  reserved  per  domes- 
tic  consumer  on  decline. 

e.  Number  domestic  consumers  has  increased  rapidly. 

/.  Large  increase  in  compressing  station  capacity  has 
been  made  necessary  by  rapidly  declining  rock  pres- 
sure. 

g.  Costs  of  producing,  transmitting  and  distributing 
natural  gas  have  greatly  increased. 

SOURCE  OF  NATURAL  GAS 

12.  How  do  we  get  natural  gas  ? 

Ans.  Natural  gas  is  secured  by  drilling  a  hole  down 
from  the  earth's  surface  and  tapping  the  underground 
rock  formation  in  which  the  gas  is  stored. 

13.  How  is  natural  gas  formed? 

Ans.    No  one  knows  how  natural  gas  was  formed. 

14.  What  is  the  meaning  of  "gas  sand"  or  "gas  rock"  ? 

Ans.  In  no  case  is  the  gas  found  in  rooms,  caverns,  or 
large  crevices,  as  popularly  supposed.  "The  oil  and 
gas  sands  are  simply  very  porous  rocks  which  con- 
tain not  one  great  cavity,  but  millions  upon  mil- 
lions of  small  or  microscopic  cavities,  so  that  the  oil, 
gas,  water,  or  all  three  together,  it  may  be,  occupy 
these  numerous  little  spaces,  and  thus  saturate  the 
rock  just  as  water  does  a  piece  of  cloth  or  a  sponge 
when  dipped  into  the  same.  The  larger  these  pores 
are,  and  the  greater  the  volume  they  occupy  in  pro- 
portion to  the  volume  of  the  rock  mass,  the  greater 
will  be  the  contained  oil  or  gas  supply,  and  this  pro- 
portion in  fairly  good  producing  sands,  usually  varies 
between  one-fifth  and  one-tenth." 

15.  Why  must  rock  pressure  decline? 

Ans.  The  rock  pressure  and  volume  must  decline  as  gas 
is  removed,  because  in  the  removal  of  the  deposit  of 
gas  we  are  confronted  with  the  following : 

a.  A  fixed  volume  of  the  reservoir. 

b.  A  fixed  amount  of  gas  inclosed  in  this  fixed  res- 
ervoir. 

c.  A  certain  rock  pressure  resulting  from  the  con- 
traction of  the  gas  volume  into  the  fixed  reser- 
voir. 

6 


Now,  if  a  part  of  this  fixed  volume  of  gas  is  re- 
moved by  tapping  the  reservoir  from  the  surface  of 
the  earth,  the  remaining  gas  volume  expands  and  keeps 
the  reservoir  completely  filled,  but  at  a  lower  pressure. 
Rock  pressure  decline  is  therefore  inevitable  whenever 
any  gas  is  removed. 

16.  Is  there  any  regeneration  of  natural  gas  ? 

Ans.     No ;  when  it  is  used  it  is  gone  forever. 

PROPERTIES 

17.  What  is  natural  gas? 

Ans.  Natural  gas  is  a  highly  combustible  gas  made  by 
a  secret  process  of  nature. 

18.  Is  natural  gas  a  chemical  compound? 

Ans.  It  is  not  a  chemical  compound — as  popularly  sup- 
posed— bat  a  mechanical  mixture  of  several  combusti- 
ble and  diluent  gases  and  vapors  thoroughly  diffused 
through  each  other,  the  number  and  exact  proportion 
of  the  various  crude  natural  constituents  varying  for 
the  different  localities  and  somewhat  during  the  work- 
ing lives  of  individual  wells. 

19.  How  much  will  1,000  cubic  feet  of  natural  gas  weigh? 

Ans.    About  50  Ibs. 

20.  7s  natural  gas  heavier  or  lighter  than  air? 

Ans.  Lighter,  weighing  about  60%  to  70%  of  the  weight 
of  air. 

21.  Does  natural  gas  have  an  odor? 

Ans.    Not  a  distinctive  one. 

22.  Would  there  be  an  advantage  in  giving  natural  gas  an  offens- 

ive odor? 

Ans.     Yes,  so  as  to  make  it  easier  to  locate  gas  leaks. 

23.  Is  natural  gas  poisonous  ? 

Ans.  Natural  gas  does  not  have  any  toxic  action,  and 
can  cause  death  only  by  robbing  the  atmosphere  of  a 
room  of  its  oxygen. 

24.  Are  there  any  other  fuels  refined  by  nature  and  ready  for 

gaseous  use  ? 

Ans.    None. 


25.  How  do  the  uses  of  natural  gas  compare  with  the  uses  of 

manufactured  gas  ? 

Ans.  Natural  gas  can  do  everything  that  manufactured 
gas  need  do,  and  many  things  that  manufactured  gas 
cannot  do. 

PRESSURE 

26.  What  is  the  cause  of  gas  pressure? 

Ans.    The  gases  inherent  tendency  to  expand. 

27.  How  does  the  gas  come  to  the  surface  ? 

Ans.  By  expansion  up  through  the  tubing  which  is  placed 
in  the  hole. 

28.  What  makes  gas  flow  through  pipe  lines? 

Ans.     Its  universal  tendency  to  expand. 

29.  What  is  the  effect  of  gas  pressure  on  gas  volume  ? 

Ans.  An  increase  in  pressure  decreases  the  volume, 
and  a  decrease  in  pressure  will  allow  the  volume  to 
increase. 

80.    What  is  barometric  pressure? 

Ans.  Merely  the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere  as  shown 
by  a  barometer. 

31.  What  does  the  term  "gage  pressure"  mean? 

Ans.     Merely  the  pressure  shown  by  a  gage. 

32.  What  does  the  term  "absolute  pressure"  mean? 

Ans.  This  is  the  sum  of  barometric  pressure  and  gage 
pressure. 

33.  //  1,000  cubic  feet  of  gas,  at  an  atmospheric  pressure  of 
14-4  Ibs.  per  sq.  in.  has  its  pressure  increased  to  4  ounces 
(.25  Ib.)  what  is  the  effect  on  the  volume? 

Ans.     The  absolute  pressure  at  4  ounces  will  be :     14.40 

plus  .25=14.65. 

Then  from  Boyle's  Law  14.65  is  to  14.40  as  1,000  is  to  X. 
14.40  x  1,000 

X= =983  cubic  feet=1.7%   contraction 

14.65 
of  volume. 

8 


34.  Are  uniform  pressures  in  natural  gas  distributing  plants 

possible  ? 

Ans.     No. 

35.  What  does  the  term  "rock  pressure"  mean? 

Ans.  When  nature  generated  or  deposited  the  natural 
gas  in  the  rock  reservoir — made  up  of  the  microscopic 
cavities  between  the  sand  grains — a  fixed  amount  of 
gas  was  placed  in  a  fixed  inclosed  space.  The  press- 
ure in  the  rock — called  "rock  pressure" — was  the  re- 
sult of  the  pressing  into  this  fixed  rock  space  of  a 
larger  volume  of  gas  than  the  mere  free  air  capacity 
of  this  rock  reservoir.  The  degree  of  compression 
employed  by  nature  in  the  formation  process  deter- 
mined the  intensity  of  the  resulting  pressure  in  the 
reservoir;  that  is,  a  high  degree  of  compression  pro- 
duced a  high  rock  pressure,  and  a  low  degree  of  com- 
pression produced  a  low  rock  pressure. 

TEMPERATURE 

36.  What  is  temperature? 

Ans.  The  term  "temperature"  indicates  hotness  or  in- 
tensity. 

37.  How  is  temperature  measured? 

Ans.     By  means  of  a  thermometer. 

38.  What  is  the  effect  of  temperature  on  gas  volume  ? 

Ans.  Each  5  degrees  increase  in  temperature  makes  an 
increase  of  about  1%  in  volume,  and  each  5  degrees 
decrease  in  temperature  makes  a  decrease  of  about 
1%  in  volume. 

39.  What  is  the  effect  of  temperature  on  gas  volume? 

Ans.  Temperature  changes  will  neither  destroy  nor  cre- 
ate any  heat  units  and  these  will  neither  increase  nor 
decrease  the  total  number  of  heat  units  contained  in 
gas.  However,  the  volumetric  changes  resulting  from 
changes  in  temperature  will  always  alter  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  total  number  of  heat  units. 

40.  Why    do    atmospheric    temperature    changes    have    more 

effect  on  the  heating  value  of  gas  than  changes  of  gas 
pressure  ? 

Ans.  The  variation  in  temperature  of  natural  gas  in 
the  underground  mains  makes  more  difference  in  heat- 
ing value  than  the  variation  in  gage  pressure.  The 

9 


maximum  fluctuation  in  temperature  produces  a  dif- 
ference in  heating  value  of  about  5%,  while  the  max- 
imum fluctuation  in  gage  pressure  on  the  domestic  con- 
sumer's premises  produces  a  difference  in  heating  value 
of  less  than  4%. 

41.  Why  is  the  heating  value  of  natural  gas  higher  in  winter 

than  in  summer? 

Ans.  The  variations  referred  to  in  the  preceding  an- 
swer work  in  opposite  directions.  That  is,  in  winter 
time  when  the  pressure  is  low,  therefore  tending  to 
decrease  the  heating  value,  the  temperature  is  lower 
and  therefore  thus  tending  to  increase  the  heating  value. 
This  increase,  due  to  low  temperature  will  always  be 
more  than  the  decrease  due  to  low  pressure. 

STANDARD  CONDITION 

42.  What  does  the  expression  "standard  condition"  mean? 

Ans.  Since  the  volume  of  gas  is  affected  by  both  tem- 
perature and  pressure,  it  is  necessary  to  specify  some 
definite  basis  of  standard  condition  for  both  of  these, 
in  comparing  one  gas  with  another. 

43.  What  reference  bases  are  usually  used  for  temperature  and 

pressure  ? 

Ans.  In  giving  the  heating  value  or  any  other  determi- 
nation relating  to  a  given  gas,  it  is  usually  given  as  if 
the  temperature  of  the  gas  were  32°  F.  and  the  pres- 
sure the  same  as  atmospheric  pressure  at  sea  level, 
namely,  30  inches,  or  what  is  the  same  thing,  760  milli- 
meters, abbreviated  mm.  of  mercury.  60°  F.  is  also 
frequently  used. 

STORAGE 

44.  Is  the  storage  of  gas  feasible  in  the  field? 

Ans.     No. 

45.  Is  the  storage  of  natural  gas  feasible  in  transit  between  the 

field  and  the  cities? 

Ans.     No. 

46.  Is  any  storage  feasible  in  the  distributing  plant? 

Ans.  The  only  plan  that  can  be  used  would  be  to  allow 
the  gas  to  expand  in  a  gas  holder,  similar  to  that  used 
for  storing  manufactured  gas.  Ordinarily  it  would 
not  be  expedient  to  build  new  holders  for  this  purpose. 

10 


NATURAL   GAS   COMPRESSORS 

47.  How  is  the  natural  pressure  of  the  gas  increased? 

Ans.    By  means  of  a  device  known  as  a  gas  compressor. 

48.  What  is  a  gas  compressor? 

Ans.  A  gas  compressor  is  merely  a  stationary  cylinder 
which  has  a  moving  piston  within  that  contracts  the 
volume  of  the  gas  and  thereby  increases  the  pressure. 

49.  Why  is  natural  gas  compressed? 

Ans.  Merely  to  expedite  transmission,  for  the  same  rea- 
son that  makes  it  necessary  to  compress  cotton,  hay,  or 
straw  for  shipment. 

50.  How  long  have  gas  compressors  been  used? 

Ans.     More  than  30  years. 

51.  Could  gas  be  delivered  to  consumers  without  compressors? 

Ans.     No. 

52.  Could  the  residue  supplies  of  natural  gas  in  the  field  be  re- 

moved without  compressors? 

Ans.     No. 

53.  Why  could  the  gas  not  be  delivered  without  compressors? 

Ans.  If  compressors  were  not  used  to  supplement  the 
declining  natural  pressures,  then  the  size  and  number 
of  lines  that  would  be  necessary  to  transmit  the  gas 
under  the  lower  natural  pressure  would  be  so  large  as 
to  make  it  impossible  to  operate. 

54.  Does  compressing  gas  lower  its  heating  value  ? 

Ans.    No. 

55.  To  what  pressure  is  the  gas  ordinarily  raised  at  the  intake 

of  transmission  lines? 

Ans.     From  200  to  400  Ibs. 

56.  What  pressure  will  you  have  at  the  end  of  a  transmission 

line? 

Ans.  This  varies  largely  with  the  distance,  quantity  of 
gas  handled,  and  size  of  line.  However,  it  is  a  very 
common  occurrence  to  have  a  pressure  drop  between 
the  intake  and  discharge  end  of  a  line  of  more  than 
200  Ibs. 

11 


57.  What  causes  the  pressure  drop  ? 

Ans.     The  friction  of  the  line. 

NATURAL  GAS  SERVICE  PROBLEMS 

58.  What  is  the  relation  between  the  demand  of  the  average 

domestic  consumer  in  winter  and  in  summer  time? 

Ans.  The  demand  in  winter  is  frequently  15  times  great- 
er than  in  summer. 

59.  What  is  the  effect  of  atmospheric  temperature  on  natural 

gas  loads? 

Ans.  The  temperature  of  the  atmosphere  has  a  direct 
bearing  on  the  demands  for  natural  gas  for  heating 
service.  However,  the  quantity  of  cooking,  incidental 
hot  water  heating,  and  lighting  is  independent  of  the 
temperature  of  the  atmosphere  and  would  be  prac- 
tically constant  for  the  year.  The  humidity  of  the 
atmosphere,  direction  and  velocity  of  wind,  and  hours 
of  sunshine,  also  affect  gas  consumption,  as  far  as 
heating  service  is  concerned.  In  general  a  high  wind 
causes  more  of  an  increase  than  merely  a  low  tem- 
perature. The  mean  monthly  temperature  curve 
plotted  upside  down  will  always  show  a  close  rela- 
tionship between  volume  of  gas  used  and  temperature 
of  atmosphere. 

60.  What  is  the  peak  load  condition  of  the  average  natural  gas 

plant? 

Ans.  Abnormal  peaks  of  very  short  duration  are  char- 
acteristic of  all  natural  gas  loads  for  domestic  con- 
sumers. It  is  because  the  domestic  consumer  creates 
a  demand  larger  than  the  gas  company  can  supply  that 
the  service  is  frequently  so  inadequate  during  extremely 
cold  weather. 

61.  Why  do  peak  loads  increase  the  cost  of  service? 

Ans.  An  increase  of  volume  of  business  can  decrease 
the  cost  of  production  only  when  the  increment  of  in- 
crease is  distributed  so  as  to  make  possible  the  more 
efficient  use  of  existing  equipment.  When  the  incre- 
ment of  increase  is  concentrated  so  as  to  require  more 
equipment,  as  is  the  case  in  all  peak  loads,  the  cost 
of  production  to  the  unit  of  service  is  increased.  There- 
fore, the  cost  of  peak  load  natural  gas  service  is  greater 
than  the  cost  of  normal  service. 

12 


62.  Why  should  consumers  that  create  the  peak  load  pay  a  high- 

er rate  for  their  larger  consumption,  that  is,  a  sliding 
scale  upward  rate? 

Ans.  A  rate  schedule  to  be  equitable  to  all  consumers 
must  make  the  consumers  who  need  and  create  the 
peak  load  service  pay  a  price  that  will  be  commen- 
surate with  the  extra  cost  of  the  service  they  are 
receiving. 

63.  Why  must  standards  for  service  be  lower  for  natural  gas 

than  for  manufactured  gas  ? 

Ans.  The  operating  conditions  in  a  natural  gas  plant 
are  so  different  from  those  prevailing  in  a  manufac- 
tured gas  plant  that  the  standards  of  service  that 
would  reasonably  be  applicable  to  the  latter  would  not 
be  feasible  or  expedient  with  natural  gas,  because: 

a.  The  volume  of  natural  gas  business  for  each  do- 
mestic consumer  is  generally  about  five  times  as 
large  as  for  manufactured  gas. 

b.  The  peak  load  difficulties  in  a  natural  gas  load 
are  much  more  troublesome  than  in  manufac- 
tured  gas,    due   primarily   to   the  heating  load, 
which  fluctuates  with  the  atmospheric  tempera- 
ture. 

c.  The    service    standards   can   not   be   limited   to 
merely  the  distributing  plant  limits,  but  would 
be  closely  related  to  the  main  pipe  lines,  back 
into  the  field  to  the  compressing  stations,  and 
general  field  operating  conditions. 

d.  The   natural   gas   company  can   not  create  the 
basic  feature  of  the  service  it  is  selling  to  the 
public,  but  must  depend  entirely  on  the  caprice 
of  nature  for  this. 

e.  Every  foot  of  gas  sold  represents  in  effect  the 
sale  of  a  part  of  the  company's  property. 

/.  Since  there  is  no  regeneration,  the  supply  can  be 
kept  continuous  only  by  constant  and  persistent 
hunting  for  new  supplies. 

g.  Although  the  distributing  end  is  a  public  utility 
service,  the  field  or  producing  end  is  a  mining 
propostion,  and  the  continuous  connection  of 
the  two  by  the  transmission  line  has  the  imme- 

13 


diate  effect  of  also  connecting  the  mining  hazards 
to  the  distributing  end  of  the  business. 

h.  The  migratory  tendencies  and  fugitive  nature  of 
natural  gas  under  the  ground  make  its  reduc- 
tion to  possession  much  more  difficult  than  for 
solid  minerals. 

i.  In  general,  the  prices  for  natural  gas  service 
have  not  been  adequate,  and  have  not  been  made 
on  the  basis  of  rendering  as  uniform  a  condition 
of  service,  especially  with  regard  to  pressure,  as 
can  be  maintained  in  a  manufactured  gas  plant. 

j.  Both  the  quality  and  quantity  are  entirely  con- 
trolled by  nature. 

64.  Would  making  natural  gas  transmission  lines  common  car- 

riers improve  or  injure  the  service  of  the  domestic  con- 
sumer? 

Ans.    No. 

65.  Is  a  discount  for  pressures  lower  than  4  ounces  desirable 

from  a  public  viewpoint? 

Ans.     No. 

66.  What  is  the  real  practical  effect  of  a  penalty  discount  ? 

Ans.  Stimulates  waste  and  tends  to  make  a  bad  condi- 
tion worse. 

67.  Why  has  industrial  gas  been  sold? 

Ans.  The  average  load  on  a  natural  gas  plant  is  only 
about  one-third  of  the  total  capacity  necessary  to  meet 
the  winter  demand.  This  emphasizes  the  many  oppor- 
tunities for  rendering  service  which  the  domestic  con- 
sumer can  not  utilize.  In  order  to  sell  gas  cheaper 
to  the  domestic  consumer  and  use  the  plant  for  a  larger 
number  of  hours,  the  companies  began  selling  gas  to 
industrial  users  during  the  summer  months,  when  the 
domestic  consumption  was  very  low.  Since  in  most 
fields  there  is  unrestricted  competition  between  vari- 
ous companies,  this  had  the  immediate  effect  to  make 
it  impossible  for  any  one  company  to  conserve  the  gas 
for  future  use  without  co-operation  with  its  competi- 
tors. The  public  has  frowned  upon  any  arrangements 
for  co-operation  on  the  theory  that  competition  was 
desirable.  This  has  resulted  in  a  wild  race  between 
the  various  companies,  each  trying  to  get  the  gas  out 

14 


of  the  field,  with  the  result  that  the  supplies  were 
drained  very  heavily  and  are,  therefore,  not  available 
for  further  use. 


AIR   IN   NATURAL  GAS 

68.  Do  natural  gas  companies  mix  air  with  the  gas? 

Ans.     No. 

69.  How  would  you  test  natural  gas  to  determine  whether  air 

had  been  mixed? 

Ans.  By  making  a  heating  value  determination,  or  chem- 
ical analysis. 

70.  How  may  high  pressure  gas  in  a  domestic  appliance  behave 

so  as  to  lead  the  consumer  to  believe  that  air  instead  of 
gas  is  coming  through  the  appliance  ? 

Ans.  If  the  full  pressure  of  gas  is  turned  on  it  may  be 
so  high  as  to  actually  blow  out  the  flame  and  give  an 
erroneous  impression  that  the  gas  will  not  burn. 


GASOLINE  REMOVAL 

71.  In  what  forms  does  petroleum  exist  under  ground? 

Ans.     Solid,  liquid,  vapor  and  gas. 

72.  What  forms  of  petroleum  can  the  domestic  consumer  use  ? 

Ans.     Gaseous  only. 

73.  What  do  the  terms  "wet  gas"  and  "dry  gas"  mean? 

Ans.  Natural  gases  coming  from  the  ground  may  be 
classed — according  to  their  gasoline  vapor  content— into 
two  main  groups,  namely : 

1.  Wet  gas. — This  is  gas  intimately  associated  with 
oil,  usually  produced  with  oil,  and  is  ordinarily 
known  as  casing  head  natural  gas. 

2.  Dry  gas. — This  is  gas  not  intimately  associated 
with  oil,  but  may  nevertheless  contain  gasoline 
vapors.     The  term  "dry"  does  not  refer  to  water 
vapor  that  may  be  carried  by  the  gas,  but  rather 
to  the  gasoline  vapor,  and,  furthermore,  this  is 
a  relative  term  since  a  strictly  dry  gas  would  be 
one  containing  no  gasoline  vapors. 

15 


74.  How  much  does  the  removal  of  gasoline  lower  the  heating 

value  of  natural  gas  ? 

Ans.  It  does  not  affect  the  gas  proper,  but  the  removal 
of  the  gasoline  vapor  lowers  the  combined  heating  value 
of  the  gas  and  vapor  less  than  3%. 

75.  Why  is  gasoline  removal  desirable  from  a  service  view- 

point ? 

Ans.  If  the  gasoline  is  not  removed  the  condensed 
vapors  will  injure  the  joints  in  the  line  and  increase 
the  leakage.  The  condensed  vapor  may  also  freeze, 
causing  interruption  of  service  and  disturbed  pressure 
conditions.  Gasoline  vapor  always  exists  in  such  form 
that  practically  none  of  it  can  ever  be  delivered  to  the 
ultimate  consumer,  and  the  heating  value  is  little  dis- 
turbed because  the  removal  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas 
lowers  the  heating  value  only  about  2%.* 

76.  Is  gasoline  removal  from  natural  gas  a  separation  or  an 

alteration? 

Ans.     Merely  a  separation  of  two  natural  substances. 

77.  How  do  temperature  and  pressure  determine  the  form  as- 

sumed by  petroleum  constituents  ? 

Ans.  The  various  compounds  and  elements  mixed  to- 
gether in  petroleum  will  exist  in  the  different  forms  of 
the  solid,  liquid,  vaporous  or  gaseous  state,  depending 
on  temperature  and  pressure.  At  low  temperatures  or 
high  pressures  the  vapors  and  gases  may  be  changed 
to  liquids.  At  extremely  low  temperatures  all  are 
solids.  At  high  temperatures  the  vapors  may  become 
gases. 

78.  Are  constituents  other  than  gasoline  vapor  separated  from 

natural  gas  ? 

Ans.     Yes,  water  vapor  and  the  element  helium. 

GAS  MEASUREMENT 

79.  How  does  the  accuracy  of  the  average  domestic  natural  gas 

consumer's  meter  compare  with  its  general  reputation? 

Ans.  The  accuracy  of  the  meter  is  very  much  better 
than  its  popular  reputation.  The  percentage  of  inac- 
curate meters  will  be  very  much  lower  than  the  per- 
centage of  inaccurate  measuring  devices  for  selling  ordi- 
nary household  commodities. 


*  Bureau  of  Mines  Technical  Paper  253  on  "Effects  of  Gasoline  Re- 
moval on  the  Heating  Value  of  Natural  Gas." 

16 


80.    How  are  gas  meters  tested  ? 

Ans.  By  checking  them  against  a  device  known  as  a 
meter  prover,  which  is  merely  a  tank  that  can  be 
made  to  discharge  a  known  volume  of  gas  through 
the  meter. 


81.    Have  gas  meters  any  power  within  themselves  to  register? 
Ans.     No. 


82.  Is  the  gas  consumption  increased  by  the  use  of  a  large 

meter? 

Ans.     No. 

83.  Can  the  gas  consumption  be  decreased  by  the  use  of  a  small 

meter? 

Ans.     No. 


84.  Does  high  gas  pressure  increase  or  decrease  the  rate  of  reg- 

istration of  a  meter? 

Ans.     No. 

85.  Does  low  gas  pressure  increase  or  decrease  the  rate  of  regis- 

tration of  a  meter? 

Ans.     No. 

86.  Is  it  possible  for  a  gas  meter  to  register  twice  ? 

Ans.     No. 

87.  Are  meters  generally  fast? 

Ans.     No. 


88.  What  is  the  present  state  of  the  gas  measuring  artf  as  relat- 

ing to  large  volume  measurement? 

Ans.  Large  volume  meters  are  available,  and  will  give 
accurate  results  if  properly  installed  and  correctly 
operated. 

89.  Is  there  any  excuse  for  a  gas  company  not  measuring  the 

gas  into  its  main  lines  and  into  its  distributing  plants? 

Ans.     No. 

17 


DOMESTIC  CONSUMPTION 

90  What  is  the  average  amount  of  natural  gas  consumed  per 
domestic  consumer  per  annum  in  West  Virginia,  Penn- 
sylvania, New  York,  Ohio,  Maryland,  Indiana,  Kentucky 
and  the  entire  United  States? 

Ans.     For  the  respective  states  the  average  annual  con- 
sumption per  domestic  consumer  is  as  follows : 

West  Virginia  158  "M'^  cu.^ft. 

Pennsylvania 120 

New  York  120 

Ohio 100 

Maryland  79 

Indiana : 76 

Kentucky  68 

Average  for  entire 

United  States 102 


91.  What  is  the  average  amount  of  money  spent  per  annum  by 

each  domestic  consumer  in  the  United  States  for  natural 
gas  service  ? 

Ans.     $31.00. 

92.  What  is  the  average  family  monthly  consumption  for  cook- 

ing, lighting,  hot  water  heating  and  incidental  heating 
like  bath  room  heater  or  bed  room,  and  laundry  stove, 
etc.? 

Ans.  With  proper  use  this  will  average  less  than  4  "M" 
(4,000)  cubic  feet  per  month. 

HEATING  VALUE 

93.  How  is  the  heating  value  of  gas  determined? 

Ans.     By  means  of  an  apparatus  known  as  a  calorimeter. 

94.  WhatisaB.t.u.? 

Ans.  This  is  merely  a  unit  or  yard  stick  for  measuring 
the  quantity  of  heat  produced  by  burning  a  given 
amount  of  fuel,  and  is  represented  by  the  amount  of 
heat  required  to  heat  one  pound  of  water  one  degree 
Fahrenheit. 

95.  What  is  the  relation  of  a  B.  t.  u.  and  a  Calorie  ? 

Ans.     One  Calorie  equals  3.96  B.  t.  u. 

18 


96.  What  is  meant  by  the  heating  value  of  gas? 

Ans.     This  simply  means  the  number  of  heat  units  that 
are  produced  by  burning  a  given  amount  of  gas. 

97.  What  is  the  average  heating  value  of  natural  gas? 

Ans.     About  1,000  B.  t.  u.  per  cubic  foot. 

98.  What  is  the  average  heating  value  of  manufactured  gas? 

Ans.     About  575  B.  t.  u.  per  cubic  foot. 

99.    Does  the  wind  have  any  effect  on  the  heating  value  of  pas? 
Ans.     No. 

COMBUSTION 

100.  Why  must  air  be  mixed  with  gas  before  it  is  burned? 

Ans.     To  furnish  oxygen  for  combustion. 

101.  How  much  air  must  be  mixed  with  natural  gas? 

Ans.  About  9y2  cubic  feet  of  air  per  cubic  foot  of  nat- 
ural gas. 

102.  What  is  the  average  B.  t.  u.  content  of  the  gas  and  air  mix- 

ture as  it  is  burned  at  the  burner? 

Ans.  About  100  B.  t.  u.  per  cubic  foot.  The  lower  the 
heating  value  the  smaller  will  be  the  air  necessary  so 
that  the  B.  t.  u.  content  of  the  mixture  ready  for  com- 
bustion will  be  approximately  the  same  for  125  B.  t.  u. 
producer  gas  or  1,200  B.  t.  u.  natural  gas. 

103.  Where  is  the  air  necessary  for  combustion  mixed  with  the 

gas? 

Ans.     At  the  consumer's  burning  appliances. 

104.  Does  any  of  the  air  necessary  for  combustion  go  through 

the  meter? 

Ans.     No. 

105.  What  results  when  not  enough  air  is  mixed  with  the  gas? 

Ans.     Incomplete  combustion. 

106.  What  is  a  Bunsen  flame  burner? 

Ans.  One  in  which  a  part  of  the  air  for  combustion  is 
mixed  with  the  gas  in  the  burner  before  reaching  the 
flame. 

19 


107.  What  is  a  yellow  flame  burner? 

Ans.  If  natural  gas  is  forced  out  through  a  small  hole 
about  the  diameter  of  a  pin,  enough  air  can  be  mixed 
with  the  issuing  gas  to  insure  perfect  combustion. 
This  is  the  principle  of  the  yellow  or  luminous  flame 
burner. 

108.  What  is  the  fundamental  distinction  between  a  yellow  flame 

and  a  Buns  en  flame  burner? 

Ans.  The  Bunsen  burner,  when  properly  adjusted,  will 
burn  with  a  clean  blue  flame,  which  will  not  deposit 
carbon  when  striking  a  cooler  surface.  If  a  yellow 
flame  strikes  a  cold  surface  not  only  carbon  will  be 
deposited  but  the  combustion  will  be  imperfect. 

109.  What  is  meant  by  the  term  "combustion  products"  ? 

Ans.  When  anything  is  burned  a  chemical  change  re- 
sults from  the  uniting  of  the  oxygen  of  the  air  with 
whatever  is  burned,  forming  new  substances  which 
are  the  combustion  products  of  the  material  that  has 
been  burned. 

110.  Can  anything  be  burned  without  forming  combustion  prod- 

ucts? 

Ans.     No. 

111.  What  is  meant  by  the  term  "perfect  combustion"? 

Ans.  A  fuel  is  said  to  undergo  perfect  combustion  when 
it  is  completely  burned  leaving  no  residue  of  unburned 
fuel. 

112.  Are  combustion  products  formed  with  perfect  combustion? 

Ans.  Yes,  for  the  reasons  given  in  the  answer  to  Ques- 
tion 109. 

113.  What  does  the  term  "smoke"  mean? 

Ans.  When  the  combustion  products  carry  minute  vis- 
ible particles  of  carbon  these  small  particles  of  carbon 
are  called  smoke;  smoke  is,  therefore,  the  result  of 
incomplete  combustion. 

114.  What  is  smokeless  combustion? 

Ans.  This  is  merely  combustion  which  produces  com- 
bustion products  which  do  not  carry  small  particles  of 
visible  carbon. 

20 


115.  Is  smokeless  combustion  necessarily  perfect  combustion? 

Ans.     No. 

116.  Why  is  it  that  smokeless  combustion  is  not  necessarily  per- 

fect combustion? 

Ans.  Because  carbon  monoxide  may  be  formed,  which, 
while  it  is  smokeless,  yet  represents  a  waste  of  fuel. 

GAS  UTILIZATION 

117.  How  is  natural  gas  used  for  illumination? 

Ans.     By  burning  it  in  an  incandescent  mantle. 

118.  Is  the  candle  power  requirement  in  manufactured  gas  de- 

sirable ? 

Ans.     No. 

119.  Why  is  the  candle  power  requirement  no  longer  desirable 

even  with  manufactured  gas  for  illumination? 

Ans.  Because  the  illumination  art  has  advanced  so  far 
that  it  is  no  longer  desirable  to  use  even  manufactured 
gas  in  open  flame  burners.  The  candle  power  require- 
ment is  therefore  of  no  particular  value,  since  manu- 
factured gas  should  be  used  only  in  incandescent  man- 
tles. 

120.  What  makes  the  illumination  in  an  incandescent  mantle? 

Ans,  The  illumination  is  produced  by  the  heat  in  the 
gas  heating  the  mantle  to  a  white  heat.  Since  natural 
gas  has  a  higher  heating  value  than  manufactured  gas, 
it  is,  of  course,  a  larger  carrier  of  heat  energy  to  the 
mantle  for  this  service. 

121.  How  does  the  consumer's  method  of  gas  utilization  deter- 

mine the  quality  of  service  produced? 

Ans.  The  results  obtained  will  depend  primarily  on  the 
appliances  and  the  consumer's  adjustment  of  the  ap- 
pliances. 

122.  Why  have  low  set  burners  been  used  in  natural  gas  cooking 

stoves? 

Ans.  Because  the  gas  was  considered  so  cheap  as  not 
to  be  worth  saving,  coupled  with  a  mistaken  idea  that 
solid  tops  were  necessary 

21 


123.  Why  should  low  set  burners  not  be  used  in  natural 

cooking  stoves? 

Ans.  Because  they  are  wasteful  under  all  conditions, 
and  ineffective  at  low  pressures. 

124.  How  can  low  set  burners  in  natural  gas  cooking  stoves  be 

raised  to  proper  height? 

Ans.  By  raising  the  manifold  (nickel  plated  pipe  hold- 
ing burner  cocks)  and  supports  for  burners  on  stove 
top. 

125.  Why  were  solid  tops  used  with  natural  gas  cooking  stoves? 

Ans.  Because  of  the  mistaken  idea  that  natural  gas 
produced  some  mysterious  poisonous  fume. 

126.  Why  should  skeleton  lids  or  grid  tops  be  used  with  natural 

gas  stoves? 

Ans.  Because  more  effective  results  can  be  obtained 
than  with  solid  tops. 

127.  How  can  low  pressure  gas  be  used  for  cooking? 

Ans.  If  the  vessel  is  brought  down  so  that  the  tip  of 
the  short  flame  can  strike  the  vessel,  satisfactory  re- 
sults can  be  obtained. 

128.  Is  there  any  particular  advantage  in  slotted  or  drilled 

burners? 

Ans.  Drilled  burners  are  easier  to  keep  clean  and  will 
give  better  combustion  conditions. 

129.  What  is  the  correct  burner  position  in  a  cook  stove? 

Ans.     About  1      inches  below  the  vessel. 


130.  How  can  you  cook  efficiently  with  high  pressures  ? 

Ans.  First  raise  the  burners  so  that  the  vessel  will  be 
about  1%  inches  above  the  burner  openings,  then  effi- 
cient short-flame  combustion  conditions  may  be  ob- 
tained by  partly  opening  the  gas  cock. 

131.  Why  is  more  gas  used  for  cooking  in  winter  than  in  sum- 

mer? 

Ans.  The  food  is  colder  and  requires  more  heating  and 
the  radiating  loss  is  also  much  greater. 

22 


132.  What  is  the  difference  between  cooking  and  heating? 

Ans.  In  a  heating  operation  it  is  merely  necessary  to 
secure  perfect  combustion  in  the  heating  device,  be- 
cause in  so  doing  all  of  the  available  heat  in  the  gas 
can  be  utilized.  In  cooking  it  is  not  only  desirable 
to  secure  a  perfect  combustion,  but  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  direct  the  heat  to  a  particular  place,  in  a  par- 
ticular manner,  and  sometimes  at  a  particular  time. 
It  is  for  this  reason  that  gas-cooking  operations  are 
more  susceptible  to  changed  pressure  conditions  than 
heating  operations. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  emphasize  that  the  time  ele- 
ment in  many  cooking  operations  is  of  much  more 
importance  than  intensity. 

133.  What  are  the  steps  necessary  in  correct  house  heating? 

Ans.     First  correctly  burn  the  gas,  then  get  the  heat, 
with  a  minimum  of  loss,  into  the  room. 

134.  Why  are  flueless  heating  stoves  objectionable  ? 

Ans.  Because  the  combustion  conditions  may  be  very 
dangerous  to  life. 

135.  Why  are  flueless  heating  stoves  more  dangerous  than  flue- 

less  cooking  stoves? 

Ans.  Flueless  heating  stoves  are  usually  used  in  bed 
rooms  and  bath  rooms,  where  the  ventilation  is  in- 
adequate, the  stoves  are  used  frequently  24  hours  a 
day  and  where  the  room  occupant  will  have  the  head 
close  to  the  floor  and  may  be  asleep  for  a  long  period 
of  time. 

In  kitchens  the  room  is  much  better  ventilated,  the 
gas  is  used  a  relatively  short  time,  the  person  walking 
around  with  head  farther  from  the  floor,  and  the  dan- 
ger here  is  negligible. 

136.  How  may  gas  combustion  products  injure  a  chimney  ? 

Ans.     The  water  vapor  may  disintegrate  the  mortar. 

137.  Why  may  the  heating  value  of  natural  gas  seem  lower  on 

windy  days  than  on  equally  cold  still  days  ? 

Ans.  Because  it  takes  much  more  gas  to  heat  on  a  windy 
day  owing  to  the  large  amount  of  cold  air  driven  into 
the  room. 

23 


188.   How  much  gas  is  wasted  by  leakage  on  the  average  con- 
sumer's premises? 

Ans.     One-sixth  the  total  amount  used. 

139.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  high  pressure  ? 

Ans.     By  blowing  of  burners. 

140.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  imperfect  combustion? 

Ans.  The  unburned  gas  will  cause  smoke  and  also  not 
utilize  all  of  the  heating  value. 

141.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  low-set  burners  on  cooking  stoves? 

Ans.  When  the  flame  cannot  reach  the  burner  a  longer 
time  is  required  for  cooking,  thus  using  more  gas,  and 
the  radiating  loss  is  much  greater. 

142.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  improperly  directed  flames  on  cook- 

ing stoves? 

Ans.  Even  with  proper  length  of  flame,  if  the  flame  is 
deflected  by  a  strong  draft  the  amount  of  gas  needed 
will  be  materially  increased. 

143.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  using  gas  before  and  after  cooking? 

Ans.  Because  the  only  heat  that  does  any  good  is  the 
heat  that  goes  into  the  food  cells. 

144.  Why  is  the  use  of  gas  in  coal  stoves  or  coal  furnaces  waste- 

ful? 

Ans.  Because  the  path  traveled  by  the  flame  is  short 
and  the  radiating  surface  is  relatively  small. 

145.  What  is  the  relative  fire  travel — that  is  distance  that  com- 

bustion products  travel  in  contact  wih  radiating  surface 
— in  a  coal  furnace  and  a  gas  furnace? 

Ans.  The  fire  travel  in  a  properly  built  gas  furnace 
will  usually  be  five  times  as  long  as  in  the  ordinary 
coal  furnace. 

146.  What  is  the  relative  radiating  surface  in  a  coal  furnace 

and  a  gas  furnace? 

Ans.  A  correctly  built  natural  gas  furnace  will  have 
about  21/2  times  as  much  radiating  surface  as  the  ordi- 
nary coal  furnace. 

24 


147.  What  is  the  relative  efficiency  of  a  coal  furnace  and  a  gas 

furnace  ? 

Ans.  The  efficiency  of  a  correctly  built  natural  gas  fur- 
nace will  be  about  three  times  as  large  as  that  of  the 
ordinary  coal  furnace. 

148.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  excessive  heating  ? 

Ans.     Most  rooms  are  kept  at  too  high  a  temperature. 

149.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  daylight  burning  of  lamps? 

Ans.  Three  lamps  burning  24  hours  a  day  waste  enough 
gas  to  supply  one  domestic  consumer. 

150.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  improper  lamp  adjustment? 

Ans.     By  using  much  more  gas  than  necessary. 

151.  How  is  gas  wasted  by  dirty  appliances? 

Ans.  By  improper  application  of  heat,  imperfect  com- 
bustion, and  using  more  gas  than  necessary. 

152.  How  is  gas  wasted  in  hot  water  heaters  ? 

Ans.  Water  frequently  produces  a  scale  inside  the 
heater  that  greatly  increases  the  heat  used,  and  the 
radiating  surface  under  most  heaters  is  so  small  as 
not  to  adequately  absorb  the  heat  generated. 

153.  What  are  some  of  the  wastes  of  natural  gas  in  a  home  that 

could  easily  be  corrected  and  ought,  therefore,  to  be  pro- 
hibited? 

Ans. 

a.  Improper  adjustment  of  appliances,  resulting  in 
imperfect  combustion. 

b.  Low  burners  —  that  is,  burners  more  than  1% 
inches   away   from   the   cooking  vessel   on   cook 
stoves. 

c.  Solid  tops  on  cook  stoves.     Grid  tops  or  skeleton 
lids  only  should  be  used. 

d.  Use  of  gas  in  coal  furnaces  and  stoves.     Especially 
built  gas-heating  appliances,  giving  an  efficiency 
of  at  least  75  per  cent  should  be  used. 

e.  No  hot-water  heater  should  be  used  that  gives  an 
efficiency  of  less  than  75  per  cent. 

25 


/.  No  tank  heater,  that  is,  tank  with  burner  under- 
neath, should  be  used  without  an  outer  jacket  and 
flue  connection. 

a    All  daylight  burning  of  lamps  ought  to  be  pro- 
hibited. 
The  prohibition  of  the  foregoing  wasteful  uses  of  natural 

gas  would — 

a.  Greatly  improve  the  quality  of  the  service. 

b.  Immediately  convert  low-pressure  conditions  into 
usable  service  for  cooking. 

c.  Cut  down  the  needed  consumption  during  the  cold- 
weather     period  —  where    the    demand    is    now 
greater  than  the  available  supply — rso  as  in  effect 
to  make  more  gas  available  for  all. 

d.  Add  15  to  20  years  to  the  period  that  natural  gas 
will  be  available  for  domestic  use. 

e.  Because  of  the  greatly  increased  efficiencies  ob- 
tained— even    with   decidedly   higher   prices   per 
1,000  cubic  feet — would  permit  the  domestic  con- 
sumer to  get  the  same  service  without  a  greater 
annual  outlay  of  money. 

/.  Permit  the  many  small  towns  that  are  too  small 
for  the  introduction  of  manufactured  gas  to  have 
gas  service  for  a  much  longer  period. 

154.  Why  are  manufactured  gas  cooking  stoves  better  than  nat- 

ural gas  cooking  stoves? 

Ans.  Because  they  are  more  efficient  at  all  pressures 
and  more  effective  at  low  pressures. 

155.  What  is  the  difference  between  a  manufactured  gas  cook- 

ing stove  and  a  natural  gas  cooking  stove? 

Ans.  Only  in  burner  distance  and  type  of  top — manu- 
factured gas  stoves  have  the  burners  about  1%  inches 
from  the  vessel  bottom  and  are  always  fitted  with  grid 
or  open  tops.  Natural  gas  stoves  have  the  burner 
distance  from  2i/2  to  3  inches  below  the  vessel  bottom, 
and  are  nearly  always  erroneously  fitted  with  solid 
tops. 

156.  Why  is  cooking  during  low  pressure  period  more  important 

than  heating? 

Ans.  Because  if  the  consumer  can  use  the  low  pressure 
gas  effectively  and  cook  a  meal  without  serious  diffi- 
culty he  is  in  a  much  better  frame  of  mind  to  forego 
the  inadequate  heating  service  during  the  peak  load 
period  in  extremely  cold  weather. 

26 


157.  //  calcium  carbide,  for  making  acetylene  gas,  costs  4c  per 

lb.,  what  is  natural  gas  worth  per  "M"  cubic  feet  for  the 
same  number  of  heat  units  received? 

Ans.     $7.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

158.  //  denatured  alcohol  costs  40c  per  gallon,  what  is  natural 

gas  worth  per  "M"  cubic  feet  for  the  same  number  of 
heat  units  received? 

Ans.     $5.40  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

159.  //  gasoline  costs  25c  per  gallon,  what  is  natural  gas  worth 

per  "M"  cubic  feet  for  the  same  number  of  heat  units 
received? 

Ans.     $2.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

160.  //  manufactured  gas  costs  $1.25  per  "M"  cubic  feet,  what 

is  natural  gas  worth  per  "M"  cubic  feet  for  the  same 
number  of  heat  units  received? 

Ans.     $2.50  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

161.  //  electricity  costs  3c  per  k  .w.  hour  and  is  used  for  heating 

with  100%  efficiency,  and  natural  gas  is  used  in  a  furnace 
giving  80%  efficiency,  what  is  natural  gas  worth,  per 
"M"  cubic  feet  for  the  same  number  of  available  heat 
units? 

Ans.     $7.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

162.  With  electricity  at  3c  per  k.  w.  hour,  for  cooking,  what  dp 

the  Home  Economics  Department  tests*  of  The  Ohio 
State  University,  show  would  be  the  worth  of  natural 
gas  per  "M"  cubic  feet,  for  cooking,  using  properly  di- 
rected short  flames? 

Ans.     $4.60  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

163.  With  soft  coal  at  $6.50  per  ton,  for  cooking,  what  do  the 

Home  Economics  Department  tests*  of  The  Ohio  State 
University,  show  would  be  the  worth  of  natural  gas  per 
"M"  cubic  feet,  for  cooking,  using  properly  directed 
short  flames? 

Ans.     $2.50  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

*  Kitchen  Tests  of  Relative  Cost  of  Natural  Gas,  Soft  Coal,  Coal  Oil, 
Gasoline  and  Electricity  for  cooking.  Department  of  Home  Economics. 
Ohio  State  University,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

27 


164.  With  gasoline  at  27c  per  gallon,  for  cooknig,  what  do  the 

Home  Economics  Department  tests,*  of  The  Ohio  State 
University,  show  would  be  the  worth  of  natural  gas  per 
"M"  cubic  feet,  for  cooking,  using  properly  directed  short 
flames  ? 

Ans.     $4.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

165.  With  coal  oil  at  15c  per  gallon,  for  cooking,  what  do  the 

Home  Economics  Department  tests,*  of  The  Ohio  State 
University,  show  would  be  the  worth  of  natural  gas  per 
"M"  cubic  feet,  for  cooking,  using  properly  directed  short 
flames? 

Ans.     $5.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

166.  With  electricity  at  5c  per  k.  w.  hour,  used  in  a  Tungsten 

lamp,  what  is  natural  gas,  burned  in  an  incandescent 
mantle  lamp,  worth  per  "M"  cubic  feet  to  give  the  same 
amount  of  illumination? 

Ans.     $1.60  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

167.  With  coal  oil  at  12c  per  gallon,  burned  in  an  oil  lamp,  what 

is  natural  gas,  burned  in  an  incandescent  mantle  lamp, 
worth  per  "M"  cubic  feet  to  give  the  same  amount  of 
illumination? 

Ans.     $5.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

168.  With  gasoline  at  18c  per  gallon,  burned  in  a  gasoline  lamp, 

what  is  natural  gas,  burned  in  an  incandescent  mantle 
lamp,  worth  per  "M"  cubic  feet  to  give  the  same  amount 
of  illumination? 

Ans.     $2.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

169.  With  calcium  carbide  at  4c  per  Ib.  to  make  acetylene  gas, 

what  is  natural  gas  burned  in  an  incandescent  mantle 
lamp,  worth  per  "M"  cubic  feet  to  give  the  same  amount 
of  illumination? 

Ans.     $5.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

170.  How  many  B.  t.  u.  in  a  k.  w.  of  electric  energy? 

Ans.     3,412. 

171.  How  many  B.  t.  u.  in  1,000  cubic  feet  of  natural  gas? 

Ans.     An  average  of  about  1,000,000. 

*  Kitchen  Tests  of  Relative  Cost  of  Natural  Gas,  Soft  Coal,  Coal  Oil, 
Gasoline  and  Electricity  for  cooking.  Department  of  Home  Economics. 
Ohio  State  University,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

28 


172.  What  per  cent  of  the  B.  t.  u.  in  coal  used  in  creating  electric 
energy  is  available  in  electric  energy  at  the  consumer's 
premises  ? 

Ans.     About  5%. 


GOING  BACK  TO  MANUFACTURED  GAS 

173.  What  is  meant  by  the  term  "manufactured  gas"  ? 

Ans.  The  term  "artificial  gas"  has  been  used  synony- 
mously for  manufactured  gas,  both  meaning  a  gas 
that  has  been  made  by  mechanical  and  not  by  natural 
means. 

174.  How  much  lower  is  the  heating  value  of  manufactured  gas 

than  natural  gas? 

Ans.     About  one-half. 

175.  Could  manufactured  gas  be  used  in  the  present  natural  gas 

stoves? 

Ans.  Not  without  raising  burners,  adjusting  mixers, 
and  substituting  grid  for  solid  tops. 

176.  What  is  the  average  annual  gas  consumption  o/  the  domes- 

tic manufactured  gas   consumers  in  the  United  States? 

Ans.     22  "M"  cubic  feet. 

177.  What  is  the  average  annual  gas  consumption  of  the  domes- 

tic natural  gas  consumers  in  the  United  States? 

Ans.     100  "M"  cubic  feet. 

178.  What  would  be  the  probable  average  annual  consumption 

of  natural  gas  per  domestic  consumer  if  natural  gas 
were  used  as  efficiently  as  manufactured  gas  and  sold 
on  a  manufactured  gas  basis  ? 

Ans.     40  "M"  cubic  feet. 

179.  Would  it  be  generally  feasible  to  build  large  central  plants 

to  make  manufactured  gas,  and  pipe  it  long  distances 
through  existing  natural  gas  transmission  lines  ? 

Ans.     No. 

180.  Is  mixing  of  manufactured  and  natural  gas  possible? 

Ans.     Yes. 

29 


181.  Why  will  it  not  be  possible  to  serve  many  of  the  smaller 

towns  along  the  present  natural  gas  lines  with  gas,  if 
the  large  towns  go  back  to  manufactured  gas? 

Ans.  Because  manufactured  gas  plants  cannot  be  advan- 
tageously operated  in  small  towns. 

CONSERVATION 

182.  What  does  the  term  "conservation"  mean? 

Ans.  A  wise  use  and  equitable  exhaustion  with  a  maxi- 
mum efficiency  and  minimum  waste. 

183.  What  is  the  difference  between  conserving  and  hoarding? 

Ans.  Hoarding  is  merely  saving  for  the  future;  con- 
servation is  proper  use  at  the  present. 

184.  What  publications  has  the  United  States  Government  pub- 

lished on  gas  conservation? 

Ans.  The  United  States  Bureau  of  Mines,  Washington, 
D.  C.,  on  gas  field  situations  has  published  Technical 
Papers  38,  42,  45,  53,  66,  68,  130,  and  Bulletins  65, 
134  and  163,  and  on  Waste  and  Correct  Use  of  Natural 
Gas  in  the  Home,  Technical  Paper  257. 

The  Smithsonian  Institution,  Washington,  D.  C., 
Bulletin  102,  Part  7,  on  Natural  Gas :  Its  Production, 
Service  and  Conservation. 

185.  How  many  years  would  be  added  to  possible  natural  gas 

service  by  the  immediate  adoption  of  a  comprehensive 
conservation  program  ? 

Ans.     From  15  to  20  years. 

186.  Why  has  industrial  gas  been  sold? 

Ans.  Because  under  existing  operating  conditions  in 
the  past  it  could  not  be  conserved,  and  the  income 
from  the  low-priced  gas  sold  to  the  domestic  consum- 
ers is  not  enough. 


PRICE 

187.    What  is  the  effect  of  price  of  gas  on  gas  consumption? 

Ans.  An  increase  in  price  will  in  general  always  lower 
the  consumption.  In  fact  the  average  consumer's  an- 
nual bill  will  remain  the  same  whether  the  price  is 
lOc  or  $1.00  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

30 


188.  What  is  the  average  price  of  domestic  natural  gas  in  the 

United  States? 

Ans.     About  32c  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

189.  What  is  the  average  price  of  manufactured  gas  in  the 

United  States? 

Ans.  For  the  newer  rates  the  average  is  in  excess  of 
$1.25  per  "M"  cubic  feet. 

190.  What  is  the  average  natural  gas  bill  of  domestic  natural 

gas  consumers  in  the  United  States? 

Ans.  The  average  annual  bill  of  2i/2  million  (2,500,- 
000)  domestic  consumers  in  the  United  States  is  slight- 
ly less  than  $31.00  per  year. 

191.  Why  have  consumers  found  that  $1.00  manufactured  gas 

cost  them  no  more  for  the  same  service  than  30c  natural 
gas? 

Ans.  The  manufactured  gas  was  used  carefully,  in  effi- 
cient appliances,  whereas  the  natural  gas  was  used 
carelessly  in  grossly  inefficient  appliances. 

192.  What  effect  has  a  change  in  price  on  gross  income  of  a 

natural  gas  company  ? 

Ans.  An  increase  in  price  per  "M"  will  generally  make 
no  material  difference  in  the  gross  income  received, 
because  the  average  domestic  consumer  by  substitut- 
ing efficient  equipment  for  the  usual  inefficient  equip- 
ment can  get  the  same  service  with  one-third  of  the 
volume  of  gas  consumption.  In  fact  trebling  the  price 
per  "M"  cubic  feet  of  gas  not  only  will  not  increase  the 
income  of  a  gas  company,  but  will  probably  decrease 
it  because  of  the  smaller  sales. 


193.    Why  is  natural  gas  merely  a  by-product  of  the  oil  industry  ? 

s.     Because  most  gas 
prospectors  in  search  o 


Ans.     Because  most  gas  pools  have  been  discovered  by 

f  oil. 


194.    What  is  the  effect  of  retail  price  on  field  conditions? 

Ans.  Because  natural  gas  has  generally  been  merely  a 
by-product  of  oil  prospecting  and  low  prices  have  pre- 
vailed, the  gas  has  not  been  worth  saving.  However, 
an  increased  retail  price  will  immediately  raise  the 
price  level  in  the  field,  and  will  have  the  practical 
effect  of  making  the  gas  worth  saving  and,  therefore, 
available  for  the  public. 

31 


195.  How  can  the  retail  price  of  natural  gas  make  the  resic 

supplies  of  natural  gas  in  the  field,  which  now  go 
waste,  available? 

Ans.  If  the  retail  price  is  made  high  enough  so  as 
raise  the  field  price  to  a  level  where  the  gas  will 
worth  saving,  much  residue  gas  —  now  left  in  1 
ground  because  the  cost  of  removal  would  be  grea 
than  the  low  field  price  obtained — can  be  pumped  < 
of  the  underground  formations  and  be  made  avi 
able. 

196.  What  percentage  of  the  average  family  income  is  spent  ] 

natural  gas  service? 

Ans.     As  the  average  family  natural  gas  bill  is  less  th 
$31.00  per  annum,  it  is  obvious  that  this  represents 
insignificantly  small  part  of  the  average  family 
come. 

197.  What  is  the  only  thing  that  will  adequately  conserve  1 

tural  gas  and  insure  continuity  of  gas  service  for  i 
future? 

Ans.     Making  the  gas  worth  saving. 

198.  What  are  some  of  the  conveniences  of  natural  gas  not  or 

narily  considered  in  price  comparisons  ? 

Ans. 

a.  Cost  of  having  solid  fuel  placed  in  house.     M< 
coal  or  oil  prices  do  not  include  delivery  in  ba; 
ment. 

b.  Labor  in  shoveling  or  handling  solid  or  liquid  fue 

c.  Labor  and  annoyance  in  handling  ashes. 

d.  Elimination  of  dirt  from  soot  and  ashes. 

e.  Much  better  fire  control  than  is  possible  with  c< 
or  oil. 

/.    No  odor. 

g.    No  preliminary  preparation  of  fire  necessary 
give  service. 

h.  Coal  is  paid  for  in  advance,  frequently  long  befc 
it  is  used.  Natural  gas  service  is  paid  for  lo: 
after  it  has  been  used;  incidentally  the  consum 
frequently  forgetting  the  unusual  weather  con< 
tions  that  prevailed  during  the  preceding  consum 
tion  period,  which  weather  conditions  were  respo 
sible  for  the  higher  bill. 

32 


507751 


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